9/9 update

Braves,

Hard to believe we are about halfway through the fall season, counting our summer program we are ¾ of the way done. We now have less than a month until the region meet and just over a month until state. We have 3 races remaining before region. Which means most of you have 4 races left in the year, while 14 of you will have 5, assuming we qualify for state at the region meet, which looks like will happen so long as we keep doing what we’ve been doing.

Once again the Murray Invitational was a huge success for our team. Our girls, who finished 13^th last year with around 350 points, were 5^th this year with about 150 points. That is a huge accomplishment, and it shows that our girls are one of the best teams in 5A. Being first in 5A last week, and second in 5A this week in a much larger race shows that we can compete with the best of them.

Our boys also had a strong day finishing one place higher than last year, which as a group is a great accomplishment considering 3 of our top 5 weren’t in the top 5 last year. Another coach pointed out how well we ran with a young group. I sort of forgot how young our team is, and how few seniors we have, because we have been racing like an experienced team all year.

Here is the link to the results: http://murrayinvite.com/results/

As human beings we often mentally set limits on ourselves that do not physically need to be there. These can take the form of excuses. Excuses are often made because we don’t want to accept responsibility of a bad workout or bad race in part because we feel that reflects badly on who we are as individuals and athletes. Maybe we are worried that a bad day is indicative of being a bad athlete, so we make excuses to spare ourselves feeling bad. The mistake is thinking that the outcome is the measure of who you are as the athlete or the person. In truth it is your effort that defines you. There is no need to make excuses for a bad day so long as you know you gave your best on the given day, and every day. Bad days, workouts, or races are going to happen, it’s the nature of the sport. Instead of allowing that the worry you or make excuses, let it motivate you to get back to work the next day. Moving forward, try to eliminate excuses by focusing on your effort rather than the outcome. Great effort each day will lead you to the best possible outcome.

Other mental limits are found in “I can’t” or “I don’t think I can” statements, or general self-doubt expressions. One unique challenge we face in XC is battling each day in practice against the same people, and racing familiar faces any given week. Sometimes this leads us to believe that someone who has typically been ahead of us in practice is automatically going to be ahead of us every day in practice, or someone who has beat us in a few races is guaranteed to beat us the next time. (This can work in reverse thinking that being ahead of someone means you will always beat them as well). This week, try to change the status quo in practice by challenging people who have been ahead of you, both in practices and in races.

This week we will be racing at Layton City park in the Davis District Championships. We will be facing off against every school in our school district (Syracuse, Clearfield, Northridge, Layton, Davis, Farmington, Viewmont, WX), the first 5 are 6A schools, and the other 3 are in our region. This is a great opportunity to see some great competition. The course is 2.75 miles, and is one of my favorite races of the year, because of the small size of the race, with quality competition.

3:30 pm - Junior Varsity Girls

  3:55 pm - Junior Varsity Boys

  4:20 pm - Varsity Girls

  4:45 pm - Varsity Boys

  5:10 pm - Alumni/Parent/Sibling/Friends of XC (2 mile)

  5:30 pm - Awards Ceremony at the Finish Line area

This is the only race of the week, and our next race will be the following Friday 9/21 in SLC.

The team dinner is on TUESDAY this week, due to the race on Wednesday, and will be at Anna Sophia’s home, 953 Eaglepointe Drive, North Salt Lake @ 7 PM. Please bring a side to share or $2 to help offset costs. Thanks to all who have hosted and to those who have gone, these have been fun events.

Thanks for all you do, let’s get back to work Monday and keep getting better.

The athletic director asked that I send the following information to our team. It is about an assembly on Monday evening at 7 PM in the auditorium.

"Especially for Athletes (“E4A”) is a movement designed to inspire athletes, and those with whom they associate, to maximize their athletic potential and to use their talents and social influence to assist and lift others. E4A is seeking to build a culture of athletes focused on changing lives through better use of the attention and influence that accompanies their position.

E4A provides education, training and motivational tools to inspire athletes to focus on doing more, and becoming more than just a great athlete. Schools, teams, youth organizations, and individual athletes are encouraged to become E4A certified and join the growing group of athletes of all ages and skill levels including college and professional athletes in committing to the E4A promise and wearing proudly their Eyes Up-Do the Work wrist band."

You can also visit the website - and view some of the videos that E4A has made in conjunction with this special assembly.

9/2 update

Braves,

This past week was one of our better ones. With 10 days between the last two races we were really able to take a big step forward, which showed on the course last night. It was unbelievable how well we did as a group. The course was fast and well set up so naturally everyone was going to be somewhat faster than any other race this year, but on so many accounts there were huge improvements. If you go to the following link you can see your time, place, and average mile pace http://www.runnercard.com/results3/meet?meetId=426719aa-77b2-498c-b5f5-45579c1e23ed

Our girls team ended up 4^th overall, but the first of 7 or 8 5A schools, and around 20 schools overall. We were behind a 4A school and two 6A schools. Our boys finished 12^th overall and had some outstanding races as well. Congratulations to our top 10 finishers: Laurie finished 3^rd overall, Trisha was 10^th with Anna Sophia just a step behind her, and Dalton finished 5^th overall.

I rarely, if ever, see the end of a race. I’m always relying on live updates on my phone or someone to tell me where they finished. Not seeing the finish is the price I pay to be able to be back 400-800m to see each of you come through one last time before the final stretch, and it is completely worth it. It is my favorite place to be, hands down. Yesterday in particular I was amazed at how many of you found another gear and made a move at that stage of the race. A woman I didn’t know, supporting another school, was standing near me when I yelled something like “go around this group” at one of our girls – I don’t even remember who it was – and of course she proceeded to make a move around them. Right then, the woman said to me, almost surprised, “Look at her. Don’t you just love it when they do what you tell them to do?” I was kind of confused by the question, because I guess I have become accustomed to seeing our kids make moves like that. Not because I’m some great motivator but because of the heart of the individuals on this team. I don’t have to wonder if you are going to move, because there is no doubt in my mind that each of you is going to give a full effort, it’s just who you are. I thank you for being willing to give your best effort each day, even when you are having a difficult day, physically or mentally. Being around great kids every day can make me forget how privileged we are to have this group, so I apologize for that. I hope that each of you knows how lucky you are to have the teammates that you do. Enjoy this time together because it is going quickly and will be done all too soon.

For those who are in town, we will be practicing Monday at 7:30 AM, per popular request (I took a poll on the bus home). Fair warning, it will be a tough workout, but one that will be greatly beneficial for us, and we are looking forward to it.

This week we will have a home meet at MPJH on Wednesday. Box Elder, Viewmont, and possibly a team from Idaho will be coming down. We will need the help of all our athletes to run/manage the meet., as soon as school lets out. We could also use all the help we can get from any parents who are available. The meet will officially begin at 3:30 with the girls, and the boys will begin at 4:00. I’d like to be cleaned up and done by 5 PM. Parents, if you are available to help, even if not for the entire time, please let me know.

Team dinner will be Thursday at 6 PM at the Wood’s home 1048 N 640 W West Bountiful. Please bring a side to share or $2 to supplement costs.

We will also be racing Friday at Murray. There is a lot of information for that meet, including parking and schedules. That info can be found at http://murrayinvite.com/

If you have any questions for me please let me know.

Let’s make this another great week and take another step forward.

Coach Jacobson

8/26 update

Braves,

We had a great week this week in terms of the quality of work that we were able to get in and the effort levels that we had each day. That isn’t to say that we were perfect, we have many areas in which we can improve. As individuals and as a team we need to find small ways that we can be a little better than we were before, and help your teammates do the same.

The races at pre-region on Wednesday were awesome. So many good things happened. Performances and races are truly great because of what they mean in the full picture of the season. Ultimately that was one step on the journey of the season, so if we don’t continue to build off of it, it won’t mean much. We have to get back to work and get better every day, and I think we responded pretty well, but we gotta keep it going.

I said this at practice but I’ll say it again here. We are allowed to take 7 runners to state in October, it is the only meet where we aren’t allowed a JV team. We have such depth on our team that we have a lot more than 7 kids competing for those spots. I hope everyone has a goal to be one of those 7 runners. If that is a goal, and you work for it each day then you will make yourself and your teammates better in the process. If ultimately you aren’t one of those 7 runners, that overshadowing any disappointment would be pride in your teammates, who you have challenged to be better due to your efforts, and an understanding that without you, our team would be significantly weaker. Each one of you is a valued member of our team. No matter if you are first or last, your efforts day in and day out make those around you better. The season is young, but we are really pleased with the effort of our team, no matter where you have placed.

We have been allowed to be lenient up to this point on having register my athlete completed. That ends this week, so if you do not have it all completed (registermyathlete.com) then you will not be allowed to race this coming week. Make sure it is done ASAP. If you have questions about it, please let me know and I can help guide you through the process.

This week we race Friday at El Monte Golf Course - 1300 Valley Drive, Ogden, UT.  There is a JV race and Varsity race, as well as a “rookie” race for anyone new to xc, but I just assume enter you in the JV or varsity races even if this is your first year, so that you can run with more teammates. However, if the rookie race sounds like something that you would enjoy, please let me know. It is the same course, it is just so they can spread out the numbers in all the races so they are less crowded. I will send out a schedule and bus departure time later in the week, but I believe the varsity girls race around 5:30, and the boys around 6 PM. We need to be there early still for the coaches meeting and to get set up, so you will miss part of your last period on Friday. We do want you on the bus going up so you can be with the team. You are welcome to go home with a parent after the meet but we encourage you to stay to watch all the other races before leaving, barring extenuating circumstances.

Let’s have a great week leading up to this Weber State meet and take another step forward.

Coach Jacobson

8/19 update

Braves,

I love cross country season. The practices, the races, the traveling, all of it. It is such a unique sport. We are lucky to be a part of it, each one of us, so I hope you enjoy this season. State is 2 months away, making the competition season of xc one of the shortest sports done in schools. Let’s continue to use each day wisely, compete together in practice, and continue to improve as a team.

The results for yesterday’s meet can be found here: http://www.runnercard.com/results3/meet?meetId=f6f32bda-9b22-4f49-9150-6ffb071c0f2f

There were so many amazing performances yesterday. I have spent hours looking over the results and comparing them with past years etc., and what I found was some truly great things from our team. One stat that I found amazing was that nearly everyone one of our runners moved up in the field with each mile, meaning over the final 2 miles we past WAY more people than passed us. This tells me that we have a lot of determination and strength, and while we have a long way to go as a team, we couldn’t be happier with the first step we took. There are seriously tons of stats like these, so I cannot share them all. I will try and write down some of the details to be shared at practice, but I haven’t had the time to list them all yet (too busy trying to soak it all in). One thing that stood out was Naomi Campbell ran about 5 minutes faster this year than last, going 1:40 per mile faster. Kimball didn’t run here last year, but the first race he did run was over 7 minute pace and yesterday he was around 6:30. The 2 freshmen that raced yesterday, Sammi and Rylee, also had outstanding races. I was very impressed with their poise and effort as they battled through the heat. Although this was their first xc race, the moment was not too big for them and they controlled their races remarkably well, and looked like experienced racers, which is a credit to the hard work they put in this summer.

Yesterday was an awesome day, but it was one step on this journey. We have a ton of work still to be done, let’s keep building on it, do some great things, and have a lot of fun on the way.

Next week we will be racing at the weber county fairgrounds for our pre region race. We will face all the schools in our region and will be racing on the course that will be used for the region championships in October. This is an important race to get familiar with the course and get some great work in.

The bus for this meet leaves at 12:45, which is crazy early. Although the race begins with the girls (JV and Varsity combined) at 3:30, and the boys at 4, the district is making all schools leave at exactly 12:45 so the bus drivers can get back to pick up the elementary students who have early out all week. After this meet we will not need to leave so ridiculously early for the races, or so I am told. I would like for each of you to email your last period teachers to let them know that you will be excused before class begins, and ask them how you can get the information you will miss, and what you can do to make up anything that is missed. This is a good strategy for the rest of the year as well. If you have any questions about the early departure time, please don’t hesitate to ask me.

On our schedule we have the Westlake grass relays this coming Saturday. At this point we would like to forego that meet, so that we don’t have 3 races in 10 days. It feels like it would be too much racing at this point, which would restrict our training and limit what we are trying to accomplish long term this year.

Practices this week will be at 2:30 Monday/Tuesday, and 2:40 once school has begun (except for freshmen whose practices will begin at 3:15). If you have any questions please let me know. Looking forward to getting back to it on Monday as we prepare for our next step of the year at Pre region.

Coach Jacobson

Beginning of the Season

Braves,

You can see the season schedule at our website bravesxc.blogspot.com

Before school begins you need to have completed the registration at registermyathlete.com and that includes getting a physical and then upload it to the website. The paperwork for that physical can be found on that website, and it must be taken in to the doctor for it to be signed.

Practices this week (8/6-8/10) will be at 7:30 M/W/F and 2:30 on T/Th. Next week practices will all be at 2:30. Our first race is a week from Friday, and there will be a bus to and from the meet at Sugarhouse park. We will be issuing uniforms next week.

If you are going to be out of town for the first meet please let me know so I do not register you.

If you have any questions please let me know.

Coach Jacobson